News Broadcasting
Big screens, bigger numbers as Network18 switches news to CTV
MUMBAI: The news has officially moved from the palm to the sofa. Network18 has delivered a landmark digital performance in 2025, riding a sharp surge across Connected TV (CTV), Youtube and social platforms to cement its leadership in India’s fast-evolving digital news ecosystem.
At the heart of this growth was CTV, which emerged as the new living-room screen, reviving multi-generational co-viewing and blending the authority of television with the freedom of digital choice. Network18 recorded 2.5 billion CTV views in 2025, a 26 percent year-on-year jump, driven by longer watch times and deeper engagement. The gains were powered by a deliberate cross-screen strategy that followed viewers seamlessly from mobile to large screens, across languages and formats.
As smart TV penetration and broadband access accelerate, CTV is rapidly becoming a performance-ready platform for both audiences and advertisers. Network18’s scale places it at the forefront of this shift, positioning news as a shared, large-screen experience once again.
Commenting on the milestone Network18 Connected chief growth officer Pranav Bakshi said the performance underlined CTV’s potential as an anchor screen for news consumption in India, while reinforcing the group’s focus on innovation and storytelling at scale.
Looking ahead, Network18 is sharpening its focus on CTV-led growth in 2026, with plans to invest in large-screen-first content curation and work more closely with advertisers on targeting and measurement-led solutions. The group is also building a global-grade CTV infrastructure and solutions stack, with presence across major OEM and OTT ecosystems including JioHotstar, JioTV, Samsung, Xiaomi and LG. A CTV-first Network18 app is slated for launch in 2026 to deliver a more curated big-screen experience.
Beyond CTV, the network’s digital dominance continued across platforms. In 2025, Network18 logged 56 billion total views, the highest for any news publisher globally in a single calendar year. Watch hours surged 87 percent, rising from 1.4 billion to 3 billion, signalling sustained audience attention rather than fleeting clicks.
On Youtube, 12 Network18 channels ranked number one in their respective categories in December 2025, as the group crossed 6 billion views, nearly three times that of its closest competitors. The network now commands a 200-million-strong Youtube audience, publishing content in English, Hindi and over 13 regional languages, while its social footprint has expanded to 386 million followers.
Taken together, the numbers underline a clear shift, as screens grow bigger, so does Network18’s digital influence, reinforcing its position as India’s most powerful news and information network in the age of platform-first consumption.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
